Survey of Florida olive groves during olive fruit development: Monitoring for stink bugs and olive fruit flies

Authors: PHILLIPS, ELEANOR - University Of Florida; Allan, Sandra - Sandy; GILLETT-KAUFMAN, JENNIFER - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2021
Publication Date: 12/17/2021
Citation: Phillips, E.F., Allan, S.A., Gillett-Kaufman, J.L. 2021. Survey of Florida olive groves during olive fruit development: Monitoring for stink bugs and olive fruit flies. Florida Entomologist. 104(4): 265-273. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.104.0403.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.104.0403

Interpretive Summary: Olives are an emerging crop in Florida, however potential arthropod pests of olive trees and the fruit development remain uncharacterized. Two types of pest insects that may directly threaten olive fruit production in Florida are native and invasive stink bugs as well as the olive fruit fly which is an intermittent invasive pest. Scientists at USDA-ARS, Center for Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, in collaboration with those at University of Florida, conducted a field survey for potential pests in commercial olive groves with emphasis on stink bugs and fruit flies. No olive fruit flies were found, however several stink bug species as well as glassy winged sharpshooters were present within the orchards. Although no fruit damage caused by insect pests was observed, fruit production was low. These results have identified potential pests that may jeopardize olive fruit production and will lead to establishing effective monitoring activities to guide management decisions for effective pest control for olives.

Technical Abstract: Olives, Olea europaea L., are an emerging crop in Florida, however potential arthropod threats during olive fruit development remain uncharacterized. Two potential pests that may directly threaten olive fruit production are pentatomid stink bugs, both native and invasive, that are important pest species of many crops in the southeast, and the invasive olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae), which is not known to be established in the state. Monitoring for stink bugs during fruit maturation was done using dual funnel tube traps baited with stink bug lures. Yellow sticky card traps baited with food and pheromone lures were used to monitor for the olive fruit fly. Both trap types were placed in tree canopies in four north central Florida olive groves during anticipated fruit development for two growing seasons. While neither of the invasive species targeted (Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) or B. oleae) were detected, several other potential pests were identified including brown stink bugs (Euschistus spp.), glassy winged sharpshooters, Homalodisca vitripennis Germar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and grasshoppers. No fruit damage attributable to arthropod pests was detected although fruit production was very low with limited samples. These results contribute to awareness of potential pests that may jeopardize olive fruit production and aid in the future studies to develop effective monitoring activities.